The Recording Academy is announcing the nominees for the 2021 Grammy Awards in a livestream from remote locations across the country.
Rappers and R&B singers tend to be the most-nominated acts at the thanks to producing their own hits and collaborating with others — sometimes from different genres — giving them a chance to qualify for more nominations than a pop or country singer who worked alone during the eligibility period. Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West,, Jay-Z and others are proof of this theory, and in a normal year, would be that rapper who leads in nominations thanks to her hits «Savage» with Beyoncé and «WAP» with Cardi B, along with her successful EP «Suga.» But «WAP» wasn’t submitted for nominations this year — what has made sense in 2020 — and when the Grammy nominations are announced Tuesday, Megan Thee Stallion will be honored, but not like she could have been. Her nominations will likely include record of the year, best rap song and best rap performance for «Savage» and she’s a shoo-in for best new artist. Had «WAP» — which became an instant-hit and was praised for its sex positive message — been included, she could have earned nominations for song and record of the year, best rap song, best rap performance and even best music video. «The Daily Show» host and comedian Trevor Noah has been tapped to host the Grammy Awards, which will air on Sunday, January 31, on CBS. Here’s a look at what to expect when The Recording Academy announces the 2021 nominees Tuesday, with Roddy Ricch stepping into the leading nominee role that should have been Megan’s. New kids on the block Though Megan Thee Stallion is the front-runner in the best new artist category, she’ll have some stiff competition. Others who may earn nominations include Lewis Capaldi, Summer Walker, Morgan Wallen, Doja Cat, BLACKPINK, Ingrid Andress, Snoh Aalegra, Skip Marley, Mickey Guyton and CNCO. Ricch boy Roddy Ricch would easily be a nominee for best new artist, but he can’t since he won a Grammy this year. The 22-year-old star won best rap performance for Nipsey Hussle’s «Racks in the Middle,» where he appeared as a guest artist alongside Hit-Boy. But Ricch, who topped the pop charts with «The Box» this year and has reached double platinum status with his debut album «Please Excuse Me for Being Antisocial,» will likely earn nominations like album of the year, record of the year, song of the year, best rap song, best rap performance and best rap album. Ricch should also earn nominations for his guest appearance on DaBaby’s international hit «Rock Star,» helping him become the show’s overall top nominee. Folks love Folklore Taylor Swift’s last two albums, «Lover» and «reputation,» didn’t earn nominations for album of the year. Things will change this year. «Folklore» is likely to compete for the top prize and gives the singer a chance to be the first act to win album of the year three times after doing so with «1989» and «Fearless.» Swift will likely earn a song of the year nod for «Cardigan» and could even compete in other genre categories outside of pop since her album has sounds from folk to alternative, though those genre committees may block her from competing in their categories so that lesser-known musicians have a stronger chance of winning.
